Amalgamator



(No Model.) Y s Sheets-Shet 1. E. S. BENNETT.

-AMALGAMATOR. No. 516,624. I Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

WITNESSES: IIVVE/VTOH 1H: NATIONAL LITHDRRAPHING coMPANY.

WASHINGTON. D. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. s. BENNETT. AMALGAMATOR.

'd Mar, 13, 1894.

9 III H II II I ill a l ill g5 WITNESSES; l/Vl/E/VTOI? rm/m (no M deL.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 8. E. S. BENNETT.

' AMALGAMATOR.

WITNESSES:

BMW

ATTORNEY v NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN I Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

Nr'rEDSTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ERASTUS S. BENNETT, OF DENVER, vCOLORADO.

A*MALGAMATOR srncrrrcngrion forming part ofLetters Patent No. 516,624, dated March 13,1894. Application filedNovember 30,1888. Renewed March 22, 1892. Again renewed August 14,1893. Serial No. 488,154. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ERASTUS S. BENNETT, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved construction of amalgamator intended for use more especially with the product of what is ordinarily termed placer diggings, yet well adapted for use with any materials wherein free or native amalgamatable mineral is found in a comparatively fine or comminuted condition.

It is well known that in all placer mining there is a very large percentage of the mineral in such fine condition that it will not sink in water, some floating thereon, some remaining suspended therein,.and that such only has ordinarily been saved as had such weight as caused it to sink through the comparatively rapid current of the water in a sluice box to the riflies or to the mercury on the bottom thereof, the remaining and lighter portions, forming the floats, slimes, &c., passing away with the water to the dump and being thereby lost with the tailings.

The object of my invention therefore is to furnish an amalgamator in which such fine float or flour mineral, as well as that which is coarser and heavier, shall be absolutely saved; carried through the amalgamating tank in such way that the mineral may be repeatedly acted on by jets and currents of water and brought into contact with large areas of amalgamating surfaces, so that it becomes practically impossible almost for any gold or amalgamatable mineral to escape with the tailings, an amalgamator of large capacity for speedy work yet very compact and strong and'efficient and durable in use, to which ends the invention consists in the features, arrangements, constructions and combinations more particularly hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated an embodiment of my invention, Wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section on the lines z-z Fig. 2 and o-'u Fig. 3; Fig.2 a transverse sectionon' the two planes 00-00 of Fig. l, a portion of the separator being broken 4 In these figures the reference numeral 1. indicates the tank proper wherein the amalgamation and saving of the mineral is to be effected.

As it is designed to receive and handle large quantities of material and to operate thereon very rapidly, it should be so made as to be able to withstand great weights and jars, to which ends sheet metal, such as boiler iron or steel is preferable for the body thereof, though other materials possessing the requisite strength and a certain degree of elasticity may be used. It is formed with a head end 2 inclined outwardly from the bottom at a uniform angle, while the outer sides are formed with two'angles of inclination or reversely hipped, the upper parts 3, 3 being at a small angle to a vertical plane while the lower parts 4, 4. are at a greater angle to such plane. The interior of the bottom of the tank is divided by innerwalls or sides 5, 5, meeting at an angle at the longitudinal center of the tank and inclined at about the same angle as the lower outer sides 4, 4 are dividing the lower part of the tank into two sections 6,

7, the entire tank in such port-ion presenting in cross section a Wshaped contour.

In one end of the tank 1, a separating cylinder 8 of suitable construction is mounted, but as the said cylinder forms no part'of this invention it needs no further description here, it being sufficient to say that the said cylinder is capable of separating the pay dirt from stone, 820., that may accompany it;

It is now necessary that every bit of mineral capable of'amalgamation should be subjected thoroughly to the influence of the amalgamating agent, that. all may be sepa rated from the gangue tailings, &c., and

saved, and to this end the devicesin the tank itself are brought into action. The greater portion of the interior of the tank should be lined with amalgamated plates 25, the only exceptions being such parts of the sides as are in immediate proximity to the ends of the rotating cylinder as seen in Fig. 1. They should be removably secured to the walls of the tank that, when necessary, they may be readily detached therefrom for the clean up, and they should be corrugated or stepped that when placed on the inclined walls of the tank the depressions may form pans for holding a quantity of mercury. For these ends the form of plate shown in Fig. 5 is an efficient and desirable one, wherein the plate is bent to form depressions 26 alternating with elevated portions. At the edges or parts of the edges of such depressions pieces 27 are secured, pans 28 being formed thereby and by the depressions or parts of the depressions and the whole interior lining becomes a horizontal series of such pans separated by inclined ribs or elevations.

The bottom of each division 6, 7 of the tank is formed into a trough 29, a trough for each division and inclined downwardly from the tail of the tank to the base of the head 2. Each trough is transversely and longitudinally di-' vided by a partition 30 so that a water way or pipe 31 is formed in the base of each trough, such water ways or pipes being supplied by a pipe 32 connected to a reservoir, pump or other source of water supply. Tapped ,or otherwise secured at intervals in these pipes are the jet outlets or nozzles 33, all inclined toward the tail of the tank and those in each division alternately to the right and left also, one to the right, the next to the left, the next to the right and soon. This arrangement throws the water from the jets alternately toward the right and left walls of each division, giving the Water a motion represented by two spirals, one moving from center to right and one moving from center to left toward the tail of the machine, and such arrangement for these spiral movements of the water is an important factor in the saving of fine or flour gold as such is thereby brought sooner or later, as hereinafter explained in contact with the amalgamated sides. As when water is not issuing from these jet outlets or nozzles sand or dirt might fall thereinto and clog them, they should be constructed as shown in detail in Fig. 4 in which the jet or nozzle is shown as composed of a body 34: at an angle to its shank 35, then as the shank is turned in its seat, the angle of inclination of the body to the sides of the tank may be varied and, regulated. From the top of the body 34 projects a lug or bracket 37 to which is pivoted a cap36 lying normally over the end of the aperture of the body. Vhen there is a sufficient pressure of water the cap will be raised and the water escape but when there is no or an insufficient pressure the cap will fall to its seat negativin g the ingress of foreign matters.

At the tail end of the tank apertures 38 are made opening from each division into a tailing trough or chamber 39, within which rotates a tailing discharge elevator wheel constructed as set out in my prior Patent No. 203,104, dated April 30, 1878. Such wheel consists of a central hub 40 having a spindle journaled in bearings above the general line of the tank or above the water line therein so as to be above the action of the sand and water in the tank.

From one end of the hub spokes 42 extend radially, carrying and supporting a side rim 41 to which are secured and from which project over the hub the buckets 43, whose other ends are supported by a second side rim 41.

Extending up within the circle of buckets and inward so far as is permitted by the spokes 4:2 is an inclined discharge board 44 upon which material lifted by the buckets falls and by which such material is conducted to the chute 46. This discharge board is cut away or slotted to pass at an angle around the hub and axle and over such slotted part is placed a shield 45 preventing any of the raised material from falling upon the hub or axle or back into the tailing chamber.

Above the meeting point of the lower inner walls 5, 5 of the divisions G, 7 is suspended a corrugated amalgamated plate 69 forming the upper dividing wall between such divisions. As an electric current aids both in carrying mineral to the depositing or retaining plates and in keeping the surface of the mercury bright and in the best condition for amalgamating the mineral, it is best to so suspend such plate that it may be used as either the anode or cathode in an electric circuit, the outer walls of the tank forming the opposite electrode. To this end the plate or plates 69 (as what is termed the plate 69may be composed of several parts) are suspended from a rod 70 supported in insulated bearings 71, electrically separating the plate 69 from the remainder of the tank. \Vhen it is desired to use the electric current aconnection 73 is made from the plate to one pole of any suitable source of current, say a dynamo 72, from whose other pole connections 74; are made to the walls 3, 3 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Recurring now to the material which has fallen into the tank from the revolvingseparator the operation is as follows: As thedirection of rotation of the revolving separator 8 is from left to right as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1,the most of the material falling therefrom falls at the lower right, quarter, thus falling first on the inclined head. 2. At the same time as water is carried or moved upwardly by the revolving separa-torthere is by reaction a gentle downward current along, the inclined head carrying theretosuchmineral as is so fine or light as to be hold is suspension. Such particles of mineral, however brought to the inclined head, as are clean and bright and are brought in con tact with bright IIO retained by the mercury of the first pan they come in contact with. If howeverany of the'particles or the mercury be in such conretained, they simdition that they are not ply slide down over an amalgamated surface to the next mercury pan, havingto run the gauntlet of several pans reaching the bottom with the probability that no bright clean gold will escape to the bottom of the incline. Some however,'from being rusty or coated or very fine or from the condition of the mercury, may so escape, whereupon the jets from the nozzles33 immediately commence to act thereon. As before explained these jets are thrown inclined to the tail of the tank and alternately to the right and left. As they start from near the bottom of the trough in each division thematerial ineach division tends to fall toward them. Thefirst jet such material comes in contact with throws it upward, forward and to one side, and as the force of the jet is exhausted, the jet spreads out, changing from small bulk with considerableforce to relativelylarge bulk with little force, so that the jet and the material borne by it reach the sides with little force and fall down with a gentle current, the material impinging on the pans and strips, with little force. These jets and these impingements scour the gold and as all the material is subjected repeatedly to this action of the jets and to the consequent scourings and is brought into contact repeatedly with the amalgamated plates and pans before it can escape from the tank there is practically no danger of any appreciable amount of amalgamatable mineral passing off with the tailings.

Some sand and mercury, both clean and as a gold amalgam settle of course in the bottoms of the troughs 29, the space in which below the jet outlets forms a quiet settling chamber or pool,the mercury and amalgam settling to the bottom thereof while the lighter sand settles on top of the mercury tending normally to form small elevations or hillocks thereon between the jet outlets. To prevent ,this and give opportunity for mineral to work through the sand to the mercury and for the mercury to work to the lower ends of the troughs, agitators or ripplers are arranged to be continuously reciprocated therein. For this reciprocation an eccentric 47 is secured upon the shaft of the hub 40 taking in acol-, lar 48 from which project on opposite sides the arms 49, 49 moving in suitable guide ways. Upright rods 51 are pivoted, a rod in each division of the tank, each'having an arm 50 at its top, at an angle to its body, the outer ends of the arms beingpivoted in the arms 49 and at opposite ends thereof. Each arm or rod 51 carries an eccentric 52 at its lower end, an

arm or rod and eccentric for each division, in the bottom of which lie two longitudinal shaker rods 53, 53, a rod on either side of the row of nozzles, there being an elliptical collar and surfaces before occasion requires by 53" or other bearings arranged between them at their tail ends for the eccentrics 52 to work in. As power is applied to themachine these shakers keep the space below the tips of the nozzles in a state of gentle agitation so that the material therein tends to work to the head or lower end, where it may be drawn off as the vent pipes 55 into the tub or other receptacle 63 preferably hung from the pipes 55 so as to receive a jig mo- 7 machine that the m'aterial emptied therein may separateautotion or shake from the matically according to the gravity of its constituents, the mercury and amalgam settling to the bottom while the sand, gangue, &c.,remain on top, whence they. may readily be removed as necessary, the tub or receptacle thus becoming in effect a second separator also.

For the proper movement of the par'tsamain driving shaft 57 is properly journaled in bearings supported by the tank; it carries a drive wheel'56 from which a belt or chain passes over one of the collars 22 to rotate the separator. The same shaft 57 also carries a bevel gear 58 meshing with a bevel gear 59 on the longitudinal shaft 60 carrying at its other end a pulley 61 connected by a chain or belt 62 with a pulley on the spindle of the tailing discharge wheel to givemotion there to and to the reciprocating shakers.

In practical operation, especially on a large scale, it ispreferable to excavate the material and feedthe same to the separator cylinder by a powerexcavator or dredging machine, the tank of the amalgamator being coupled thereto by the hook or coupling 68 and both being placed on a suitable track. Thus connected the amalgamating tank will receive an end movement or shake from the excavator during the operation thereof.

The body of the tank should not be supported directly upon the axles of the truck thereof but should be spring supported on at least the rear axle bya device similar to that shown in Fig. 6, wherein 66 is a yoke to be secured beneath the tank It has a vertical slot passing over and partially inclosing the box 65 in which is the bearing of the'axle of wheels 64. Between the top of the box and the upper wall of the slot is interposed a spring 67. This arrangement should be used at each end of at least the rear axle, when the revolution of the large and heavy separator will give a slight tremulous up and down motion to the tank upon the springs 67, the combination of which with the end shake or motion referred to, gives an excellent pan motion to the pans atthe same time facilitating the movement of the mercury and matter in the troughs 29 to the outlets thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- I 1. The combination with the water supply pipe the amalgamating trough having inclined sides, of jets or nozzles projecting from IIO the supply pipe and having their outlets inclined alternately to the right and left to give the body of water within the trough an advancing spiral motion, and a cap pivoted to one side of each of the said jets and closing the end thereof, the said caps being adapted to be raised or lowered by the pressure of the water therein, substantially as set forth.

2. An amalgamating tank divided into two troughs each havinginclined sides, pipes provided with nozzles inclined alternately to the right and left and each trough inclined downward toward the head of the machine and there provided with draw oif outlets, and a cap pivoted to one side of each of the said jets and closing the end thereof, the said caps being adapted to be raised or lowered by the pressure of the water therein, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with each division of an amalgamating tank of a water pipe in the bottom thereof and a series of nozzles orjets rising therefrom, each nozzle or jet having its body outlet at an angle to its shank, and a cap pivoted to one side of each of the said jets and closing the end thereof, the said caps being adapted to be raised or lowered by the pressure of the water therein, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a tank divided into divisions of a rod supported in insulated bearings above the meeting line of the two divisions and an amalgamated plate suspended therefrom and not in contact with the bottom of the tank, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the tank having the inclined head 2 and divided into two divisions 6, 7, each having inclined sides and a central trough,a waterway or pipe in each division provided with upwardly projecting nozzles or outlets inclined alternately in opposite directions as set forth, and a cap pivoted to one side of each of the said jets and closin g the end thereof, the said caps being adapted to be raised or lowered by the pressure of the water therein, a tailing chamber at the tail of the tank, an elevator Wheel located therein, a discharge board or chute therefor, and a rotating separator journaled at the head of the tank, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a tank or a division thereof having inclined sides, of a water way or pipe in the bottom thereof, nozzles or jet outlets projecting upwardly at an angle alternately in opposite directions therefrom and a cap pivoted to one side of each of the said jets and closing the end thereof, the said caps being adapted to be raised or lowered by the pressure of the water therein, and reciprocating ripplers or agitators, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a water pipe of an amalgamator, of a plural number of water jets, each of the said jets having an arm 37 on one side thereof, and a cap pivoted to each of the said arms and adapted by resting upon the jet contiguous thereto to close its orifice, or to be lifted off the said jet by the pressure of the water therein, as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS S. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

L. F. WILBER, H. W. ABBOTT. 

